Loads and loads of Harleys's

There isn't much out here.

We started the morning with the intent of finding the Minuteman Missile Silo National Historic Park. We didn't really know where it was - so I figured I'd see a sign, knowing it was someplace near the Badlands. Rapid City came and went, and no park. Bummer.


At least the weather was cooperating. By 9am we left the interstate to ride Canyon Road from Rapid City to Deadwood, and it was already 90F. The plan was to ride from Canyon Road to Spearfish Canyon, but the Garmin didn't tell us the connector was gravel, so we had to go through Deadwood. At least in the hills the temps dropped down to 84F.

This is, after all, the Sunday before Sturgis Rally week and there pirates (uh, Harley's) all over the place. That wasn't all bad ... considering the heat, most women didn't wear much, and there was a particular Bikini Bike wash that Chuck and I have burned into our memory ;-) .. sorry guys, no photos, we were waiting for a left turn at a light and wished we had Bikini Bikes that needed washing (whatever those are).

In the hills it was time for lunch and I knew of a great little oasis, but was afraid that we would have to endure loads to bikes. But there was nobody there!


Apparently the couple hundred feet of gravel deterred 600,000 other bikes. We had a peaceful lunch (peanut butter sandwiches) next to a meadow of daisy's. I guess that's not macho enough for the pirates ;-)

The next segment of the ride was to be Spearfish Canyon. This is a scenic and windy (sweepers, not twisty) 30 miles along a river between neat rock formations. The speed limit is 35 or 45; it is best enjoyed at a relaxed 65.


We rode behind these guys for an hour. Yup, an hour. Do the math .. 30 miles per hour. They would speed up in the straights and slow down in the corners.

Shortly thereafter we crossed I90 and stopped at a gas station. It was 90F and I was ready to try out my cooling vest. This is a vest which holds water and slowly releases it over 2-3 hours for an evaporative effect. It works really well! While filling it we talked some folks from north of Minneapolis. They asked why we wear so much stuff (they were in muscle shirts and bikinis). One asked why I didn't just ride around in my underwear. I muttered something about sunburn, and 30 miles later figured I should have asked why he wanted me to see me naked. Then it got down to "how do you like your FJR" etc.

Back on the road we took the backroads to Devil's Tower: 111 to 24. The speed limit was 65mph, but all the bikes were going 55 or so. Beats me why they go that slow, but they're easy to get around and one guy was nice enough to wave us past.


The hike around it was short (1.3 miles?) but refreshing. Been there before many times and have lots of photos.

Instead of taking the interstate all the way to Sheridan, we took the 14 from Gillette to Sheridan.


It was a nice alterative. Note that the town on the map "Spotted Horse" was a defunct gas station and Alvada was a post office, it was nearly 120 miles of 75 mph nothingness (except hills and buttes). I like it!


Finally we get a view of the Big Horn mountains! And yep, those are rain and thunder clouds. We managed to avoid all rain today. At our KOA we had a tent site with a shelter; as we pulled up a couple guys in the Kabin next door said we took thier garage space... grrrr! But seriously, they were nice guys from Tennessee out riding around the country. We made a beer trip to town and came back with and Odell's IPA (quite good) and Bud light for our neighbors.

That's all for today!